Vancouver – Research by Sparton Resources (SRI-V, SPNRF-O) has identified a major source of coal ash in China containing significant amounts of uranium.
The program, conducted jointly with a branch of the China National Nuclear Corporation, sampled ash from coal fired generating plants that burn lignite coals with known elevated uranium content.
Sparton has three power stations in its sights all located in central Yunnan Province and burning coal sourced from the same open pit operation. Ash analysis completed on one of the stations (Xiaolongtang) returned values from 123-142 ppm (0.012-0.014%) uranium.
Based on historic and current data, the locally-sourced coal has high ash content (about 20-30%) and contains 20-315 ppm (0.002-0.031%) uranium, averaging 65 ppm (0.007%). As a result of the elevated uranium content, the coal ash from the power stations is unsuitable for use in cement and is mostly stockpiled onsite.
Sparton estimates about 5 million tonnes of recoverable ash in Xiaolongtang’s accessible stockpiles.
All three power stations (Dalongtang and Kaiyuan in addition to Xiaolongtang) are expected to produce an aggregate of 1.2 million tonnes of ash annually over the next couple of years. Based on an average 125 ppm (0.0125%) uranium content, annual ash output would contain about 150 tonnes (330,900 lbs.) of U3O8.
Sparton has commenced a leach testing program to ascertain recoverability of the uranium contained in the ash.
The “non-conventional” uranium program certainly captured investor interest with Sparton shares gaining 78% on the news to close up 14.5 to 33 apiece on trading volume of almost 4 million.
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